For the week of September 16, 2004
Church conflict seminar
The Louisiana Baptist Church-Minister Relations Department has scheduled a
one-day session on church conflict for Oct. 21 at the Baptist Building in Alexandria.
The theme of the session is “Transforming Your Church: Building a Culture
of Peace.” The scheduled leader is Ken Sande, executive director of Peacemaker
Ministries, which works to help churches across the nation deal with conflict
in a biblical manner. The Oct. 21 session is set to begin at 10 a.m. and conclude
at 4:30. Lunch is included in the $10 per person cost. Persons are asked to
register by Oct. 14 by sending personal and contact information and the registration
fee to : Louisiana Baptist Convention, Attn: Church-Minister Relations, P.O.
Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309. Information should include name, address, phone
number, occupation, church affiliation and church role. For information, call
(800) 622-6549 or (318) 448-3402.
Disaster relief
The first two dozen Southern Baptist disaster relief units were deployed on
Sept. 7 to help thousands of Floridians reeling from the devastation left by
Hurricane Frances, the second hurricane to hit the state in less than a month.
Meanwhile, more than 120 units have been activated and are in various stages
of deployment. Plans still are being finalized, but disaster relief workers
are expected to be needed in Floridas western panhandle, as well as Georgia
and Alabama. Response after Hurricane Charley in mid-August in Florida already
had marked the largest in Southern Baptist history, with more than 200 teams
or units involved in the operation. However, convention leaders said they expect
the current response will surpass that. Already, relief leaders are seeking
volunteers to drive emergency response vehicles for the American Red Cross.
Volunteers must be in good health, able to lift 30 to 40 pounds, make a two-week
commitment and be willing to locate wherever needed. Those interested should
contact their respective states disaster relief director for further information.
Abortion ruling
Opponents of a federal ban on partial-birth abortion have completed a complete
sweep at the federal district court level. Federal Judge Richard Kopf struck
down the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act as expected earlier this month in Lincoln,
Neb. In his opinion, Kopf permanently blocked the laws enforcement and
ruled it failed at least two constitutional tests. Most notably, it lacked an
exception for the mothers health, he said. Kopfs decision followed
similar rulings from federal judges in two other districts. One of those decisions
already has been appealed, with appeals of the others expected as well. The
cases appear destined to converge at the Supreme Court. At issue is a law less
than one year old. President George Bush signed the ban into law just last November.
It was designed to prohibit a procedure that normally occurs in the fifth or
sixth month of pregnancy. In the procedure, a baby is almost completely delivered
– then aborted.
Marriage ruling
A second Washington state judge has struck down that states ban on same-sex
marriage, saying it violates the Washington state constitution. The ruling follows
a similar ruling in early August. Both decisions invalidate the states
Defense of Marriage Act, which was passed by the legislature in 1998 and prevents
the state from recognizing same-sex marriage. Prior to the pair of rulings,
no American court had ever struck down a states defense of marriage act.
In the most-recent ruling, the judge maintained that marriage is a fundamental
right that should be available to all persons. The case likely will end up before
the Washington state Supreme Court – possibly as early as this year. In addition,
it has fueled calls for a state constitutional amendment defining marriage.
Pro-family advocates long have argued that state laws alone are not enough to
stop the push for same-sex marriages. More than a dozen states already are set
to vote on constitutional marriage amendments this fall.
Cooperative Program
Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled more than $16.3
million last month, a decrease of $350,391 (4.4 percent) from the previous August.
With one month remaining in the conventions fiscal year, year-to-date
receipts total almost $176.5 million, an increase of $7.4 million from the same
time last year. The total also is $9.3 million (5.6 percent) ahead of budget
at this time. Meanwhile, designated giving totaled more than $5.2 million last
month, an increase of $234,925 (4.7 percent) from the previous August. For the
year, designated gifts total $185.2 million, an increase of almost $22.4 million
(13.7 percent) from the same time last year.
Baptist deaths
At least four and as many as eight children of Baptist leaders
were killed when a hostage standoff in a Russian school ended violently on Sept.
3, reports indicate. The two-day crisis in the southern town of Beslan came
to a climax when Russian commandos stormed the school following an explosion.
Russian authorities have said that at least 335 people many of them schoolchildren
were killed in the massacre. Baptist World Alliance leaders familiar
with the situation said the tragedy hit the local Baptist church in Beslan hard.
Pastor Sergei Totjiev lost three of his five children. Of his two remaining
children, one has been blinded and the other is seriously injured. Church elder
Taimuras Totjiev had five children taken hostage. Only one has been found alive,
and the others are presumed dead. In addition, another child from the church
died. The Baptist World Alliance is working with a local partner to provide
for the needs of the children and their families.
Swimming for missions
In an effort to raise awareness for his churchs ministry in Haiti, George
Brunstad recently swam the English Channel. While remarkable in itself, Brunstads
feat is all the more extraordinary because the Wilton, Conn., resident is 70
years old. His late August swim set a new record, not for speed – he finished
in 15 hours, 59 minutes – but because he is the oldest person ever to tackle
the channel. He broke the record of Bertram Cliffort Batt of Australia, who
was 67 years old when he made the journey in 1987. Brunstad did not swim the
channel just to set a record, though. He wants people to know about a ministry
his church – Wilton (Conn.) Baptist Church – sponsors in Hinche, Haiti. Brunstad
said the channel swim was the most grueling feat he has undertaken. All in all,
because of currents pushing him off course, Brunstad swam a total of 32 miles
– seven more than a direct route across the channel. “Near the end, I had
to swim four hours to make two hours time because of the tide coming toward
me,” he recalled. “It was pulling me to the north. I had to fight
it.”
Voter registration drive
Stepping up its effort to encourage Christian participation in the election,
Focus on the Family has mailed voter registration forms to 1.3 million of its
constituents – an unprecedented initiative by the evangelical organization.
The registration packet includes everything needed to register, except a stamp.
It is the first time Focus on the Family has mailed voter registration forms
directly to its constituents. The get-out-the-vote effort is part of a larger
endeavor by evangelical organizations. Focus on the Family recently joined the
Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission in its iVoteValues.com
emphasis, featured at www.iVoteValues.com. Organizers of the effort remind persons
that the deadline for registering to vote in the fall election is nearing. The
deadline in Louisiana is Oct. 2. For online registration forms, visit www.sos.louisiana.gov/elections/elect-appli.htm.